Flames of Love: Hell and Universal Salvation

Is hell for real, or will all be saved? What if both are true? It is tempting to settle either for the liberal option of downplaying the judgment of God, or for the conservative option of letting dominant church tradition trump fresh understandings of Scripture. Not settling for either of these popular options, this book offers a clear and compelling response to the question of what hell could be for in a universe created and redeemed by a loving God. The book seeks to articulate a distinctively Christian universalism that highlights the centrality of Christ, coheres with the Scriptures and early church tradition, affirms the reality of divine judgment, and offers motivational grounds for evangelism and holy living. Ultimately, this work is about the Christian struggle to envision the life of the world to come in a way that is faithful to the God in whom love and holiness are forever united. "Heath Bradley's fascinating new book, Flames of Love, leads the reader through a careful exploration of what it means to hold an evangelical, universalist position. He has done his homework, fairly exploring various options within orthodoxy regarding the possibility of hell, while providing a compelling argument for his universalist position. This is a worthwhile study for anyone interested in Christian eschatology and evangelism."--Elaine A. Heath, Associate Professor of Evangelism, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University"Flames of Love is a terrific exploration of the Christian doctrine of hell. . . . Written with the eye for clarity of a philosopher, the knowledge of Scripture and church tradition of a theologian, and (perhaps most importantly) the ease of expression, good sense, and passion of the best preacher, Flames of Love should be read by anyone who wants to understand the case for Christian universalism."--Thomas D. Senor, Professor of Philosophy, University of Arkansas Read more